内容简介：
In the 1970s and 1980s, major research spacecraft cost more than 1 billion dollars, and took more than a decade to develop. However, innovations in management and technology have allowed spacecraft to be built smaller, at less cost. This book offers a comprehensive review of practices related to the management and engineering of small spacecraft. The author examines spacecraft development trends, and highlights new strategies for reducing cost and increasing performance. He reviews the role that small spacecraft play in the US civil space programme, the significance of advanced systems, and the implications for future developments in the field.